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JBL Restoration (a father/son project)

Vintagear

Vintagear

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
Last year, as a birthday present I offered to buy my son new pair of modern speakers to go along with a Sansui AU-717 I had previously given him (the speakers he was using weren't cutting it). To my surprise he preferred the vintage look of a pair of JBL L100A's. Narrow baffle floorstanders or stand-mount bookshelf monitors were not doing it for him. I guess he was smitten by the great white woofer.

I gave in and we bought the L100A's from a local fellow enthusiast. They were in perfect playing condition but were looking a little "tired" so we embarked on a father/son restoration project to bring them to their former glory. In retrospect, he made the right call. We had a good time restoring them and now he has a mint set of collectible speakers to start in this hobby.

Attached are some before, during and after pic's.

HvCDN3fl.jpg


Before-Paint Bubbling

IWhgKmvl.jpg


Before-Dull wood/slight water rings

bpnCVSll.jpg


Before & After- Wood refinish

HYd02Fwl.jpg


During-Scrape & prep baffle

HwOk3epl.jpg


During-Prime baffle

IgMuiE9l.jpg


During-Baffle repainted

XCihJtKl.jpg


After- Rears repainted

ffwi9Hbl.jpg


After- Smooth

zioyso6l.jpg


After- Pristine baffle

1k3EJLnl.jpg


After-Standing proud

TgzCYKPl.jpg


After- Beautiful again!
 
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Vintagear said:
Last year, as a birthday present I offered to buy my son new pair of modern speakers to go along with a Sansui AU-717 I had previously given him (the speakers he was using weren't cutting it). To my surprise he preferred the vintage look of a pair of JBL L100A's. Narrow baffle floorstanders or stand-mount bookshelf monitors were not doing it for him. I guess he was smitten by the great white woofer.

I gave in and we bought the L100A's from a local fellow enthusiast. They were in perfect playing condition but were looking a little "tired" so we embarked on a father/son restoration project to bring them to their former glory. In retrospect, he made the right call. We had a good time restoring them and now he has a mint set of collectible speakers to start in this hobby.

Attached are some before, during and after pic's.



HvCDN3fl.jpg


Before-Paint Bubbling

IWhgKmvl.jpg


Before-Dull wood/slight water rings

bpnCVSll.jpg


Before & After- Wood refinish

HYd02Fwl.jpg


During-Scrape & prep baffle

HwOk3epl.jpg


During-Prime baffle

IgMuiE9l.jpg


During-Baffle repainted

XCihJtKl.jpg


After- Rears repainted

ffwi9Hbl.jpg


After- Smooth

zioyso6l.jpg


After- Pristine baffle

1k3EJLnl.jpg


After-Standing proud

TgzCYKPl.jpg


After- Beautiful again!
Click to expand...
Nicely done!:thmbsp:
 
Awesome project and a very cool story. I'm sure the speakers will mean more to him that anything you could go out an buy at whatever the price.

How old is your son btw?
 
Beautiful job! May I suggest royal blue dust covers? Best regards Moray James.

PS I just got a pair of L200B in need of the same TLC.
 
Those turned out GREAT! And all the added reward of being a father/son project, fantastic.
 
YEAH !!!! Feels good huh? My oldest just turned 18, and unfortunately he's happy with his system. Maybe if I can get the L26 Decades finished he'll change his mind.

Cheers!
 
Really makes me feel good to see a pair of fine JBL loudspeakers restored to their former glory! GREAT JOB!!
 
Great project and terrific work you both did.
The rewards will last a life time for both of you!
 
Beautiful Job. I use to a pair of JBL L36's a long time ago, after looking at the fine job you and your son did I wish I still had them for a restoration project.

Great bonding experience I am sure.
 
Great job! Those look awesome. What paint did you use on the baffles? I really dig the look.

If there were more Father/Son projects, the world would be a much nicer place. Congrats on taking the time to do this project with your Son. This will be something he remembers for a long time.
 
What sort of finish did you apply to the walnut? Looks GREAT! I am just starting on my L100s and I planned on doing shellac with french polish.
 
Excellent job . They look great . I just got done helping my son refurb a set of KEF C80`s . It was a blast . Good job .
 
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